Fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads

ABSTRACT

An automatic overhead sprinkler system supported from the roof of a structure to be protected. The system consists of a network of fixed pipes conveying a fire extinguishing liquid and a number of movable piping means connected to the fixed pipe network. Sprinkler heads are attached to the movable piping means at a point remote from where the piping means connect to the fixed pipes. The movable piping means are held in an elevated out-ofthe-way position by heat sensitive support means which are responsive to heat generated by a fire and which initiate lowering of the movable piping means carrying the sprinkler heads to a fire extinguishing position.

United States Patent [19] Mitchell et al.

[ Mar. 26, 1974 [75] Inventors: William S. Mitchell, Oakland; Lloyd G. James, Alameda, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Safeway Stores, Incorporated,

Oakland, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 284,572

409,796 8/1889 Magaldi 169/16 UX Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner.lohn J. Love Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flehr, Hohbach, Test, A]- britton & Herbert [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic overhead sprinkler system supported from the roof of a structure to be protected. The system consists of a network of fixed pipes conveying a fire extinguishing liquid and a number of movable piping means connected to the fixed pipe network. Sprinkler heads are attached to the movable piping means at a point remote from where the piping means connect to the fixed pipes. The movable piping means are held in an elevated out-of-the-way position by heat sensitive support means which are responsive to heat generated by a fire and which initiate lowering of the movable piping means carrying the sprinkler heads to a fire extinguishing position.

21 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAR 26 I974 sum 1 ur 5 PATENTEU MAR 2 61974 SHEEIQUFS FIG.2

:DATENTEDMARZS I974 SHEET t Of 5 FIG.5

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATICALLY LOWERING SPRINKLER HEADS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with sprinkler heads which are lowered automatically in the event of a fire, and more particularly to such a fire extinguishing system for use in areas with high vertical spaces such as those found in aisleways in warehouses.

The principle behind provision of automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler systems is to place a fire extinguisher at the source of the fuel for the fire at an early stage to minimize and localize damage. Sprinkler systems in the past have been provided with overhead pipe networks so that heat accumulating in the upper reaches of the protected structure would dispense fire extinguisher on a fire below. As structure such as warehouses expanded in width and height and equipment became available to lift goods to form high vertical stacks the heat sensing means became more remote from many lower probable sources of fuel for a fire. Additionally when water was released from fixed overhead automatic extinguishing networks it was most likely that goods unthreatened by the fire would be damaged by the extinguishing fluid. It is apparent then that there is a need for a fire extinguishing system which will respond to intermediate level fires in structures having high vertical storage spaces such as warehouses, thereby extinguishing fires quickly near their point of origin, and minimizing damage to adjacent goods not threatened by the fire.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The sprinkler system involved in this invention is an overhead automatic type having a fire extinguishing liquid supply pipe network supported from the roof of the structure being protected. Piping means are connected to the supply pipe network at one end and have sprinkler heads mounted at a point remote from the end connected to the supply pipe network. Heat sensitive means provides support for the piping means in an outof-the-way position. The same heat sensitive means is responsive to heat, from a fire initiating movement of the piping means from an elevated out-of-the-way position to a lowered fire extinguishing position and causing the fire extinguishing liquid to be dispensed by the sprinkler heads when in the lowered fire extinguishing position. The piping means and sprinkler heads are lowered or swung down through some convenient vertical clearance space such as the aisleways in a large warehouse with high vertical storage spaces.

In general it is an object of the present invention to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads for automatic delivery of fire extinguishing fluid to the source of fuel for a fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads of the foregoing character which will minimize damage to goods that are not threatened by the fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads of the foregoing character which provides fire protection at all times in the structure being protected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads of the foregoing character which provides storage of the lowering heads in an outof-the-way position until actuated to the lowered fire extinguishing position by the heat from a fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads of the foregoing character which will provide fire extinguisher in the immediate area where heat is detected by a heat sensitive element providing early warning and quick fire suppression.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing apparatus and system with automatically lowering sprinkler heads of the foregoing character which will provide fire protection for warehouses with high vertical storage spaces.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side elevational view of a warehouse having an overhead sprinkler system incorporating the present invention and showing the automatically lowering sprinkler heads in a stored out-ofthe way position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a warehouse showing the sprinkler heads in a stored out of-the-way position.

FIG. 3 is a detailed plan view of the connecting means orientation in the described embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front elevational view of a warehouse showing the sprinkler heads which are automatically lowered in the fire extinguishing position.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the sprinkler heads which are automatically lowered stored in the out-ofthe-way position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a rotary valve.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the rotary valve along the line 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fire extinguishing apparatus and system 10 disclosed herein is particularly useful as an installation in warehouses. In particular warehouses having high roofing and overhead support members 11 may utilize the system. The warehouse shown in the accompanying drawings has a' floor 12, vertical support members 13, and walls (not shown) enclosing the area covered by the roof ll. Pallet racks 14 are shown constructed in rows within the warehouse forming aisleways l5. Goods 16 are stacked on pallets l7 and lifted up for storage up to a normal level on the pallet racks 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

In general the fire extinguishing system 10 disclosed herein provides sprinkler heads 18 and 19 which dispense fire extinguishing fluid and which are actuated by the heat associated with a fire. The same heat initiates lowering of the sprinkler heads 18 from a stored out-ofthe-way position to a point close to the source of fuel for a fire.

Roof sprinkler heads 19 are connected to a network of fire extinguishing liquid supply pipes 20 by risers 21 and are in a fixed position in the proximity of the roof 11. Additional fire extinguishing liquid supply pipes 22 are located overhead near the warehouse roof 11 so as to be out of the way of normal operations. Support means 23 are attached to the roof l1 and suspend supply pipe networks and 22 in an overhead position. Elongate piping means 24 are attached to the additional supply pipes 22 by connecting means 25 at spaced intervals. The lowering sprinkler heads 18 are attached to a portion of the elongate piping means 24 at a point remote from the connecting means 25 as shown. Piping means 24 is shown in the elevated outof-the-way position in FIG. 1.

Heat sensitive means 29 supports piping means 24 as best shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment a point for anchoring one end of heat sensitive means 29 is shown as an eyelet 30. A fusable element or link 31 is attached to the eyelet at one end and to a flexible elongate element such as cable 32 at the other. The position of eyelet is arbitary as long as it is fixed until the link 31 fuses. At least one guide-like support means such as pulley 35 is supported from the roof and overhead support members 11 for mounting cable 32. Two such pulleys 35 are shown in this embodiment. Means for attaching cable 32 for supporting 24 is provided by hook 36 on piping means 24.

Connecting means 25 is comprised of a pipe tee fitting 37 and a depending pipe section 38 connected thereto. A rotary valve 41 is attached to the other end of the depending pipe section 38 and is comprised of a valve body 42 and a face plate 43 held in position with bolts 44, as is best shown in FIG. 6. A valve member 47 is attached to piping means 24. A passage 48 through valve member 47 is in communication with the channel through piping means 24 as is best shown in FIG. 7. An opening 49 in valve body 42 is provided to allow rotational motion of piping means 24 from the nominally horizontal stored position to the nominally vertical lowered fire extinguishing position.

The additional fire extinguishing fluid supply pipes 22 are aligned by support means 23 to overlie and extend in the direction of aisleways l5. Elongate piping means 24 are aligned at a slight angle in this embodiment with additional supply pipes 22 to allow clearance between cable 32 in heat sensitive means 29 and supply pipe 22. This is best shown in the detail of FIG. 3. It can be seen that this angular positioning of piping means 24 with the direction of aisleways 15 would be unnecessary if the additional supply pipes 22 ran at right angles to aisleways 15.

Heat sensitive support means 29 comprised of eyelet 30, fusable link 31, cable 32, pulleys 35, and attachment point 36 as best shown in FIG. 4, supports elongate piping means 24 in an out-of-the-way position for all normal conditions. Sprinkler head 18 can be seen to be attached to one end of piping means 24. A source of heat directly below connecting means 25 will release heat sensitive support means 29 when the heat of fusion for the fusable link 31 is reached. The force of gravity action on piping means 24 causes the portion carrying sprinkler head 18 to swing through an arc from the nominally horizontal to the nominally vertical or lowered fire extinguishing position.

It is evident that valve member 47 shuts off flow of fire extinguishing liquid from additional supply pipe 22 when piping means 24 is in the stored out-of-the-way position. When piping means 24 assumes the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 7, which is the lowered fire extinguishing position, the passage 48 through valve member 47 is in communication with the inlet of the valve body 42 and depending pipe section 38. Fire extinguisher at supply pressure is delivered through piping means 24 to sprinkler head 18 to be dispensed on the source of heat which caused fusing of fusable link 31.

It should be noted that fusable link 31 is a useful but not a sole means necessary to the operation of the system. A bi-metal type device (not shown) could be used as a heat sensitive support means operating as a mechanical or electrical release in the embodiment described.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides an automatic fire extinguishing system which applies extinguishing agent directly to the source of fuel for the fire by virtue of the fact that the actuating means, in the form of a fusable link in this embodiment, occupies a position overlying that assumed by the sprinkler head in the lowered fire extinguishing position. Fire extinguishing fluid is not applied to goods unless they are adjacent to the source of the fire thereby preventing damage to goods not threatened by the fire. Automatic fire protection is afforded at all times in the structure protected by the system. The sprinkler heads are placed in an out-of-the-way position for normal operation and are actuated by force of gravity to descend to a position closer to the source of the fire when a fire is sensed. A typical lowering distance for sprinkler heads is 18 feet. Early fire warning and quick fire extinguishing is provided for installations where conventional roof type systems may place heat sensitive elements in positions too remote from potential sources of fuel for fires.

We claim:

1. In an automatic overhead sprinkler system, support means for said system, a supply pipe carried by said support means and adapted to convey a fire extinguishing liquid, a sprinkler head, elongate piping means having one end mounted on said support means in an elevated position and connected to said supply pipe to convey liquid from said supply pipe, means mounting said sprinkler head on said piping means at a point remote from where the piping means is connected to the supply pipe, a portion of said piping means having said sprinkler head mounted thereon being movable between an elevated out-of-the-way position and a lowered fire-extinguishing position, heat sensitive means for supporting said portion of the piping means in said out-of-the-way position, said heat sensitive means being responsive to heat from a fire whereby when a certain temperature is reached said sprinkler head is released and will automatically assume said lowered fire extinguishing position and means for causing said fire extinguishing liquid to be dispensed by said sprinkler head after the sprinkler head is released.

2. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means is disposed in a position which overlies the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is in said lowered fire extinguishing position.

3. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads, additional elongate piping means mounted on said support means in elevated positions and connected to said supply pipe, a plurality of means mounting said sprinkler heads on said piping means at points remote from where the piping means are connected to the supply pipe, and a plurality of heat sensitive means for supporting said movable portion of the piping means in out-of-the-way positions.

4. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in I claim 1 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said supply pipe in fixed positions at elevations higher than the elevation of said first named sprinkler head in its lowered fire extinguishing position.

5. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said elongate piping means mounted on said support means in an elevated position moves by force of gravity to said lowered fire extinguishing position.

6. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means is in the form of a fusible element.

7. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said means for causing the fire extinguishing liquid to be dispensed comprises valve means actuated by movement of said portion of the piping means.

8. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means for supporting said piping means in said out-of-the-way position comprises a flexible elongate element, a fusable link connected to said element and forming a part thereof, guide-like support members carried by said support means for mounting said flexible elongate element, and means for mounting the ends of the elongate element for supporting said piping means in the out-of-the-way position.

9. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein one end of said flexible elongate element is connected to said piping means adjacent to said portion of said piping means.

10. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said elongate piping means mounted on said support means in an elevated position comprises a rigid length of pipe.

11. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 for use in a warehouse of the type having said support means provided therein, and wherein goods in the warehouse are stacked in vertical storage spaces with aisles therebetween and wherein said sprinkler head in said lowered fire extinguishing position is disposed in an aisle below the normal level of the goods in the vertical storage spaces.

12. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 10 wherein said rigid length of pipe is released to swing down by force of gravity when released by said heat sensitive means.

13. In a sprinkler system in a warehouse having a plurality of aisles with vertical storage spaces located therebetween, having goods stored therein, said vertical storage spaces being capable of receiving goods up to a normal level, a network of fixed overhead water supply pipes, a plurality of sprinkler heads, a plurality of piping means having one end connected to said supply pipes and having said sprinkler heads attached thereto at positions remote from said one end, said piping means being movable between out-of-the-way positions and lowered fire extinguishing positions in said aisles below the normal level of the goods in the vertical storage spaces, and heat sensitive means for supporting said piping means in said out-of-the-way positions, said heat sensitive means when subjected to a temperature associated with a fire operating to allow said piping means to move to the fire extinguishing position and the movement of said piping means operating to permit water to be dispensed from said sprinkler heads.

14. A sprinkler system in a warehouse as in claim 13 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said network of overhead water supply pipes, said additional sprinkler heads being located in fixed positions at elevations higher than said sprinkler heads attached to said piping means in the lowered fire extinguishing position.

15. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse having overhead roof members and a plurality of aisleways formed between vertical storage spaces, comprising a water supply, fixed supply pipes for conveying said water, support means attached to said overhead roof members for suspending said fixed supply pipes overhead, a plurality of connecting means in communication with said fixed supply pipes and generally overlying said aisleways, a swing down pipe assembly connected to said connecting means, a sprinkler head attached to said swing down pipe assembly at a point remote from said connecting means, heat sensitive support means for retaining said swing down pipe assembly in an out-of-the-way position, said heat sensitive means operating to release said swing down pipe assembly to assume a predetermined fire extinguishing position by force of gravity generally below said connecting means and said swing down pipe assembly operating to release said water supply through said sprinkler head when in said fire extinguishing position.

16. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse as in claim 15 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said fixed supply pipes in fixed positions at elevations higher than the elevation of said first named sprinkler heads in lowered fire extinguishing positions.

17. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises rotary valve means connected between said water supply and said swing down pipe assembly.

18. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said heat sensitive support means for retaining said swing down pipe assembly in an out-ofthe-way position is located in a position overlying said sprinkler head when in said predetermined fire extinguishing position.

19. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said swing-down pipe assembly comprises a rigid pipe section extending from said connecting means to said sprinkler head.

20. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said swing down pipe assembly provides for lowering said sprinkler head to a level approximately half the height of said storage spaces.

21. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse having overhead roof members and a plurality of aisleways formed between vertical storage spaces, comprising a water supply, supply pipes for conveying said water, support means attached to said overhead roof members for suspending said supply pipes overhead, a plurality of connecting means in communication with said supply pipes and generally overlying said aisleways, a swing down pipe assembly force of gravity generally below said connecting means and releasing said water supply through said sprinkler head, and wherein said connecting means comprises rotary valve means connected between said water supply and said swing down pipe assembly. 

1. In an automatic overhead sprinkler system, support means for said system, a supply pipe carried by said support means and adapted to convey a fire extinguishing liquid, a sprinkler head, elongate piping means having one end mounted on said support means in an elevated position and connected to said supply pipe to convey liquid from said supply pipe, means mounting said sprinkler head on said piping means at a point remote from where the piping means is connected to the supply pipe, a portion of said piping means having said sprinkler head mounted thereon being movable between an elevated out-of-the-way position and a lowered fire-extinguishing position, heat sensitive means for supporting said portion of the piping means in said out-of-theway position, said heat sensitive means being responsive to heat from a fire whereby when a certain temperature is reached said sprinkler head is released and will automatically assume said lowered fire extinguishing position and means for causing said fire extinguishing liquid to be dispensed by said sprinkler head after the sprinkler head is released.
 2. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means is disposed in a position which overlies the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is in said lowered fire extinguishing position.
 3. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads, additional elongate piping means mounted on said support means in elevated positions and connected to said supply pipe, a plurality of means mounting said sprinkler heads on said piping means at points remote from where the piping means are connected to the supply pipe, and a plurality of heat sensitive means for supporting said movable portion of the piping means in out-of-the-way positions.
 4. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said supply pipe in fixed positions at elevations higher than the elevation of said first named sprinkler head in its lowered fire extinguishing position.
 5. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said elongate piping means mounted on said support means in an elevated position moves by force of gravity to said lowered fire extinguishing position.
 6. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means is in the form of a fusible element.
 7. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said means for causing the fire extinguishing liquid to be dispensed comprises valve means actuated by movement of said portion of the piping means.
 8. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive means for supporting said piping means in said out-of-the-way position comprises a flexible elongate element, a fusable link connected to said element and forming a part thereof, guide-like support members carried by said support means for mounting said flexible elongate element, and means for mounting the ends of the elongate element for suppOrting said piping means in the out-of-the-way position.
 9. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein one end of said flexible elongate element is connected to said piping means adjacent to said portion of said piping means.
 10. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 wherein said elongate piping means mounted on said support means in an elevated position comprises a rigid length of pipe.
 11. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 1 for use in a warehouse of the type having said support means provided therein, and wherein goods in the warehouse are stacked in vertical storage spaces with aisles therebetween and wherein said sprinkler head in said lowered fire extinguishing position is disposed in an aisle below the normal level of the goods in the vertical storage spaces.
 12. An automatic overhead sprinkler system as in claim 10 wherein said rigid length of pipe is released to swing down by force of gravity when released by said heat sensitive means.
 13. In a sprinkler system in a warehouse having a plurality of aisles with vertical storage spaces located therebetween, having goods stored therein, said vertical storage spaces being capable of receiving goods up to a normal level, a network of fixed overhead water supply pipes, a plurality of sprinkler heads, a plurality of piping means having one end connected to said supply pipes and having said sprinkler heads attached thereto at positions remote from said one end, said piping means being movable between out-of-the-way positions and lowered fire extinguishing positions in said aisles below the normal level of the goods in the vertical storage spaces, and heat sensitive means for supporting said piping means in said out-of-the-way positions, said heat sensitive means when subjected to a temperature associated with a fire operating to allow said piping means to move to the fire extinguishing position and the movement of said piping means operating to permit water to be dispensed from said sprinkler heads.
 14. A sprinkler system in a warehouse as in claim 13 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said network of overhead water supply pipes, said additional sprinkler heads being located in fixed positions at elevations higher than said sprinkler heads attached to said piping means in the lowered fire extinguishing position.
 15. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse having overhead roof members and a plurality of aisleways formed between vertical storage spaces, comprising a water supply, fixed supply pipes for conveying said water, support means attached to said overhead roof members for suspending said fixed supply pipes overhead, a plurality of connecting means in communication with said fixed supply pipes and generally overlying said aisleways, a swing down pipe assembly connected to said connecting means, a sprinkler head attached to said swing down pipe assembly at a point remote from said connecting means, heat sensitive support means for retaining said swing down pipe assembly in an out-of-the-way position, said heat sensitive means operating to release said swing down pipe assembly to assume a predetermined fire extinguishing position by force of gravity generally below said connecting means and said swing down pipe assembly operating to release said water supply through said sprinkler head when in said fire extinguishing position.
 16. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse as in claim 15 together with a plurality of additional sprinkler heads connected to said fixed supply pipes in fixed positions at elevations higher than the elevation of said first named sprinkler heads in lowered fire extinguishing positions.
 17. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said connecting means comprises rotary valve means connected between said water supply and said swing down pipe assembly.
 18. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wheRein said heat sensitive support means for retaining said swing down pipe assembly in an out-of-the-way position is located in a position overlying said sprinkler head when in said predetermined fire extinguishing position.
 19. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said swing-down pipe assembly comprises a rigid pipe section extending from said connecting means to said sprinkler head.
 20. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system as in claim 15 wherein said swing down pipe assembly provides for lowering said sprinkler head to a level approximately half the height of said storage spaces.
 21. A heat responsive fire extinguishing system for use in a warehouse having overhead roof members and a plurality of aisleways formed between vertical storage spaces, comprising a water supply, supply pipes for conveying said water, support means attached to said overhead roof members for suspending said supply pipes overhead, a plurality of connecting means in communication with said supply pipes and generally overlying said aisleways, a swing down pipe assembly connected to said connecting means, a sprinkler head attached to said swing down pipe assembly at a point remote from said connecting means, heat sensitive support means for retaining said swing down pipe assembly in an out-of-the-way position, said heat sensitive means operating to release said swing down pipe assembly to assume a predetermined fire extinguishing position by force of gravity generally below said connecting means and releasing said water supply through said sprinkler head, and wherein said connecting means comprises rotary valve means connected between said water supply and said swing down pipe assembly. 